Open hearth furnace



Aug. 13, 1935. o. P. LuETscHER OPEN HEARTH FURNACE Filed lJuly l5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Humm

Aug. 13, 1935. o. P. LUETscHER 2,011,554

OPEN HEARTH FURNACE Filed July l5, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 @faQ/7 /Z/Crfzzefsc/Zef Patented Aug. i3, 193s 2,011,554Y

nUNHTEDSTATES; PATENT OFFICE.

2,011,554 OPEN HEARTH FoRNAcEt Oliver P. Luetscher, Peru, Ill.-

Application July 15, 1933, SerialNo. 680,591

13 Claims. (Cl. 263-15) This invention relates to improvements in openv fractories by reason of the excessive temperhearth furnaces and, although j particularly atures at points where the gases impin'ge thereadapted for furnaces of the type -to be used on. In addition, the imperfectly developed flame with liquid fuels, it is equally applicable t'o urwhich is produced by this arrangement causes naces employing gaseous fuels, especially high only a relatively low temperature to be obtained heat value gases, such as natural gas or by-prod- With a consequent slow melting of the metal. uct gas, either alone or in combination with each In the present invention, `the foregoing disother, The principal object of the invention is advantages are effectively overcome, the mixing to provide a relatively simple and effective form of the fuel and air is much more thoroughly a6- 10 of construction adapted to secure extremely high complished than has been possible with any of flame temperatures by the complete mixing of the previous types of open hearth furnaces in the fuel and combustion air, low velocity of naine common use, the spiral action of the currents iS impingement on the bath, together with control of avoided, the formation of destructive eddy C111'- the direction of the flame of hot gases to avoid rents is effectively prevented and the velocity of the damage to the refractories which has hereimpingement of vthe flames on the bath is reli tofore accompanied attempts to secure the adatively 10W. These advantageous features of the vantages of extremely hot names and high rates Present invention make it possible to operate a of fuel input. The present invention is particufurnace With a very high rate 0f Production With larly adapted for application to open hearth fura minimum 0f refractory 00st, With 10W fuel 00n- 0 naces of the regenerative type in which the 'hot Sumption, and with a minimum of loss and an- 20 gases of combustion, when discharged in one dinoyence by reason of Shut-downs for repair purrection, heat the passages of a regenerative DoSeS. A vfurther feature of the Present invenchamber through which the combustion air subtion is the .provision of an improved construction Sequently passes and is heated on its way to the whereby the concentration of the air flow about furnace chamber when the direction of discharge the name at the'incoming end of the furnace 25 of the gases of combustion is reversed. and the free outow of the waste gases from the In open hearth furnaces of the type heretofore other end of the furnace is accomplished Withused, differences in pressure of the incoming out the use of damDerS 0r other mechanical aD- combustion air in different parts of the furnace vparatlls- A further Object of the invention iS t0 have caused the air currents to assume a whining provide e construction in which provision is made 3o or eddy-like motion over the moltenbath, with for a relatively large latitude of adjustment of the result that the air currents have tended to the angle 0f impingement of the llame on the pick up hot gases and slag spray from the flame bath,`withoi1t the 115e 0f an excessively large Dort and the bath surface and cause them t0 impinge for the name. Still another object of the invenon the roof of the furnace with consequent damtion lS to provide improved means for housing and .35 age and necessity for frequent repair. Efforts to protecting the burner and for Permitting moveovercome this diniculty by building port blocks ment of the burner housing bodily toward dand and so-called monkey walls to control the difrom the bath to allow access for replacement rection of the air currents and to minimize the and repair- Another important object iS to Drowhirling action have not met with a high degree vide means for adjusting the angle of the burner 4o of successQparticularly when embodied in a fur- With respect to the surface of the bath. `Other nace of the regenerative type, inasmuch as the ObJ'eCtS'and advantages of the invention Will -be blocks or division walls provided for controlling pointed out in Connection With the features of the air currents form an obstruction which pro` Construction hereinafter described.

duces eddies in the outgoing gases at one end of The nature of the invention will be understood 45 the furnace chamber with consequent erosion of from the following Fspecification taken with the the refractory wallsv of the passages through accompanying' drawings, in Whichwhich gas and air alternatelypass. Efforts have Fig. 1 is a horizontal section taken through they also been made to overcome the diniculties by principal Part of` a furnace embodying the imextending the refractory structure over the burnprovements of the present invention,v the section 50 ers and locating the burners nearer the metal v being taken on theline I--I of Fig. 3;

bath but this has caused too violent impingement Fig. 2 ShOWS a vertical Section taken on the of the name upon the bath and results in an line 2-2 of Fig. 1: y l n incomplete utilization of the combustion space in Fig. 3 shows a vertical section taken on the line' addition to causing deterioration of the rel3 --3 of Fig-2; I 55 Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section similar to a portion of that of Fig. 1, showing a modified form of the invention in which the burner is mounted for angular adjustment;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an elevation of the end of the furnace embodying the burner mounting illustrated in Fig. 2, showing the Acarriage for the burner;

Fig. 8 shows an enlarged vertical section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, omitting the burner;

Fig. 9 shows a horizontal section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7, omitting the burner; and

Fig. 10 shows a section taken on the line III-I8 of Fig. 9.'

' The disadvantagesin open hearth practice, to which reference has been made are overcome in the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. This improved construction comprises a furnace having a furnace chamber 6| located above the hearth 62 which contains the molten metal bath 63. The furnace chamber is covered by a refractory roof 64 and this chamber communicates at its ends with the up-take passages 65 and Y55l which extend upwardly from the slag pockets 66to which heated air for combustion is supplied through the fantaii passages 61 leading from the regenerative chambers. 'Ihe up-take passages 65 and '65* extend upwardly on opposite sides'of the slag pockets and each pair of up-take passages is separated from an intervening up- 'ake' passage 68 by means of the refractory division walls 69 which are supported attheir lower ends by arches 10and '19'L extending over the slag pocket 6B and united with the side walls of th'e chamber. .One arch 10* is made higher than the other arch 10, in order to compensate for the natural tendency of the incoming air to produce different air pressures a't the lower ends of the up-take passages. One wall of the passage 55l may be inclined as shown at 55b in order to make that passage smaller at the lower end while permitting it to have the same cross-sectional area at the top as the passage 55, Which further tends to. equalize the effect of the unequal pressures at opposite sides of the slag pocket. The division walls 69 are connected at their upper ends by the arch-shaped housing or dog house 1| which extends a considerable distance into the furnace chamber 6| with the upper portion thereof spaced slightly from the roof 64 asfshown at '12. 'Ihe inner end of ,the dog houseA 1| is tapered ini wardly o'n its upper and lateral sides, as shown at 1| Figs. 1 and 2, and its length'and position adjacent-the roof serve the purpose of preventing the aircurrents rising through the up-take passages 65 and 65e from assuming an objectionable spiral motion in the furnace chamber.

The housing or dogfhouse 1| is providedwith a metal liningvland the chamber within this housing is partially occupied by an inner casing or d0g house 15 which is movable with respect to the stationary dog house 1I. 'I'he casing 15 is made' up of a metallic outerwall 15'A having a lining of refractory material 15b and the inner vchamber 16. thereof communicates through a port 11 in the lower wall of the casing with a port 18 which is formed at the upper end of the central uptake passage 68 through which air is supplied for combustion of the fuel within the casing 15.

'I'he casing 15 is provided at its sides with brackets project outwardly from the open outer end of the dog house, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The brackets 11 and 18 are preferably provided with longitudinal grooves adapted to receive balls on which the casing 15 may be moved outwardly from the normal inner position shownv in the drawings. The inner end of eaclr dog house 1| is provided with an opening in which is mounted a hollow water-cooled ring 88, having a suitable connection with a water circulating system and provided with a central circular opening 8| which constitutes the burner port. vThe inwardly projecting conical portion 15 of the casing 15 is also provided with -a hollow water-cooled ring 82 'which seats against the ring and forms a tight connection-there'- with when the casing 15 is in its'inner position, at which time thecasing 15 also forms a fluidtight connection with the walls of the up-take passages 68 through refractory wedges 83, Fig. 2 which are inserted between the walls yand the lower edge of the casing 15 around the port 11. In the rear wall of the casing 15, there is stationarily mounted a burner 85 which is located with its longitudinal axis in alignment with the axis of the port 8| and which may be of the usual type employed with open hearth regenerative furnaces. Instead of employing oil as a fuel, the burner may be replaced by a nozzle through which natural gas or by-product gas may be injected at suflicient velocity to entrain a supply of air from the passage 68 as combustion takes place. If desired; various fuels may be used in combination. By mounting the burner casing 15 for movement on' the tracks, it may be withdrawn to permit ready access to the water-cooled rings 80 and 82 for purposes of cleaning, replacement A passages B5 and 65". This unbalance of the airpressure is, however, effectually overcome by so proportioning the arches III and 10* and the passages 55 and 65* as to o'set any tendency for the development of different air pressures under the f influence of the cun'ent of air entering the slag pocket 66 through the fantail passage 61. The

exact positions of the arches 10 and 1lil and of the 'v I division walls 58 may be determined in(A the field or by the use of small scale models, thereby obl taining such proportions of the parts as will lead to the least possible unbalance ofthe air currents in 'the different passages. The flame projected from the mouth of the burner 85 serves to entrain a quantity of air drawn upwardly through the pasl Isage 68 and there is a very thorough mixing of this air with the burning Jet of fuel within the movable casing or dog house 15. The development of the flame takes place in the chamber 15 of this casing, where it is completely surrounded by air. instead of taking place in the-trough formed between the port blocks, as in furnaces of the type heretofore used, and thus there is no possibility of the direction of the flame being disturbed by whirling currents of air. lWith this construction.

(all.

farther from the molten bath 63 than is possible yin the usual types of furnaces withtheresult that the velocity of impingement of the llame on the surface of the bath is greatly reduced. A further advantage is that the burner may be mounted 'with its axis coincident with the axis of the port forming this port, at the point where the llame enters the furnace chamber see Fig. 2. In addition tothe advantages which. are gained at the end of the furnace chamber into which air flows through the uptake passages 65 and 6511, there is an advantage gained at the opposite end of the furnace ln that the outflow of hot gases is unobstructed by excessively high port blocks or walls as in the prior art structures heretofore referred to. This prevents the formation of eddy currents in the passages 65 and 85B through which the hot gases are discharged and the length of life of the refractoriesin this part of the construction ismae terially increased. There is a further advantage in that, at the discharge end of the furnace chamber, only a small portion of the hot gases flows through the'passage 68, because of the small dimension of the port 8|, so that the vwalls 69 'are not subjected to extreme heat on both sides and consequently have a longer life. i

In the foregoing description, the burner 85 has been described as being rigidly -mounted in the movable casing or dog house 15 and this arrangement has'the advantage of simplicity While at the same time eliminating the possibility of inequalities of adjustment by different operators. In some cases it may be desirable to adjust the angle at which the flame from the burner strikes the bath of molten metal, Without at the same -time having the cone of the flame deflected from its central position .within the burner port, and a construction by which these results may be obtained is illustrated in Figs. 5 to 10, inclusive, in

which there is illustrated a construction substantially identical with that heretofore described in connection with Figs. l to 4, inclusive, except that the burner is adjustably mounted. In this construction, a stationary dog house has mounted within it an inner casing o r dog house 9| which issubstantially similar to the casing 15 previously described and which has in the lower wall thereof a port 92 communicating with the upper end of 'the uptake passage 93 through which air for primary combustion is drawn vthrough the slag pocket at the lower end of the passage. The inner end of the casing 9| carries a water cooled ring 9|b which is adapted to lit against the water-cooled ring 90aL on the dog house 90, as in the construction previously described. The rear wall 9| of the casing 9| is provided with an opening 94 in which the burner 95 is located. This burner is positioned so that its axis 95B passes through a point 96 located centrally within the mouth or port 91 of the casing 9| and in order that the burner may be swung about the point 96 as an axis or pivot, in order to'change vthe angle of incidence of the ame upon the surface of the molten bath, means are provided for adjusting the burner 95 Within the opening 94. This is accomplished by providing a pair ofl upwardlyextendingV track members 98 'on opposite sides of the rear end of the burner 95 and mounting the burner for movement along the curved inwardly extending flanges 98a of these track members. The burner 95 is mounted on acarriage |00'which comprises a transverse plate having rearwardly extending flanges |00a terminating in outwardly directed flanges |00b which 'extend substantially parallel to the curved flanges 98a of the ytrack members. Each outwardly extending ilange |00*L of the carriage is provided with a roller |0| to` travel on the inner surface of the adjacent flange 98a and these flanges |00 of the carriage are also provided with other rollers |02 which are adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the flanges 98, thus guiding the carriage |00 in a curved path having the center of curvature at the point 98. In order to cause the burner carriage to be held against the flanges 98a, the trunnions of the rollers |0| are mounted on brackets |03, see Fig. 9, which,

notches |03 after which the bracket |03 may be moved longitudinally to cause the lugs to overlap its edges. Each bracket |03 carries at its o u'ter end a socket |05 in which is mounted a coil spring |06 bearing at i s inner end against the adjacent flange |00b of e carriage. Each spring I|05 is adapted to be compressed by a thumb screw'llll threadedly engaging the outer end of the socket member, thus causing the spring to exert a resilient pressure on the adjacent flange |00b and causingfa corresponding resilient pressure of the connected roller |0| upon the flange 98 of the coacting track member. 'I'he adjustment of the burner carriage on the track members may be effected by` cables |08 which are connected to blocks |09 carried by the flanges |00Il of the car'- riage and which are passed over rollers ||8 mounted on the end wall of the furnace. The other ends of these cables are wound on the drum of a winch which may be operated by a handle H2 to wind up the cables and thus elevate the burner carriage. Upon releasing the winch, Vthe burner may be lowered by vgravity to the desired point. With this arrangement, the burner 95 may be swungv so as to cause the axis of the llame-to occupy either ofthe positions illustrated by the dotted lines 95b or 95u, Fig. 6, or any intermediate position, for example. without causing the axis of the flame to be displaced from the central point 98 within the mouth of the burn r casing. In

this way, the angle of incidence of he flame upon themolten bath may be changed without setting up any spiral .action of the llame due to the engagement thereof with the wall of the casing 9|.

The arrangement of the hearth, slag pockets,

uptakes, division walls, burner housings, burners,

air passagesand burner ports in the present insubstantially free openings are maintained for the exit of waste gases from the furnace chamber.' In

l the practice of the improved method of -the present invention, the burner is located in an air passage opposite to the burner port andspaced at such a` distance therefrom that the flame which is projected from the burner at high velocity through the port operates to draw in air from the air passage suincient to shpply the maior portion of the air required f or combustion, while the additional air needed for combustion is supplied from the uptake passages located on opposite sides of the burner passage and an upflow of air is consistently maintained in these uptake passages, thereby assisting -in overcoming any tendency for the formation of eddy currents inthe furnace chamber.

Although certain forms of the invention have been shown and described by way o f illustration, it will'be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments coming within the scope of the appended claims. .i y

I.claim: 1; In an open he h regenerative i'urnace, a pair of uptake passages communicating with one end of the furnace chamber, a slag pocket having communication with the lower ends of said passages, means forming communication between a regenerative chamber and saidslag pocket, an auxiliary air passage leading upwardly from said slag pocket between said yuptake' passages, and

division walls between said auxiliary passage and said uptake passages, said division wall further 4 removed from the regenerative chamber being of I lesser depth than the other division wall.

2. In an open hearth furnace, uptake passages communicating with the furnace chamber, a housing within said chamber mounted between said passages and in transverse alignment therewith and having a port communicating with said 4chamber at a point in advance of said uptakes, a easing mounted in said housing and having a mouth in registry with said port, and a burner mounted in said casing in alignmentwith said port.

3. In an open hearth furnace, uptake passages communicating with one end of the furnace chamber, a stationary housing located within said chamber between and in transverse alignment with said uptakes and having a port communicating with said chamber in advance of said uptakes,

a casing mounted in said housing and having a mouth locatedin registry with` said port, a burner carried by said casing in axial alignment with said port, and an auxiliary air uptake extending upwardly between said uptake passages, said casing having an opening communicating with said auxiliary air uptake. n

`4. In an open hearth flunaceupta,ke passages communicating with one end of the furnace chamber, a stationary housing located within said `chamber between and in transvere) alignment with said passages and having a port communicating with said chamber in advance o'f 'said .uptakea a casing mounted intsaid housing and having a inouth located in registry with said port, a burner carried by said casing in axial alignment withsaid port, an auxiliary air uptake extending upwardly between said uptake passages, said casing having an opening communicating withI said auxiliary air uptake, and means supporting said casing for .movement thereof toward and from said port within said housing.

5. In an open hearth furnace, uptake passages communicating with the Vfurnace chamber, a stationary housing within said chamber located between said passages and in transverse alignment therewith in proximity to the roof of said chamber and having a port at its inner end at a point in advance of said uptakes communicating with said chamber, a burner mounted in said housing at a substantial distance to the rear of y said port and adapted to project a flame through said port, a'nd means for changing the angular position of said burner without changing the position of said flame within said port.

6. In an open hearth furnace, a stationary vhousing located at one end of the'furnace chamb er and having a port located at its inner end with its axis` inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the surface of the -bath of ,metal in'said chamber, a burner-mounted within said housing at apoint removed, from said port, and means for adjusting the angleof said burner to change `the angle of incidence of the fiameupon said bath while maintaining said llame in an axial position within said port.

7. In an open hearth furnace, a stationary housing located at one lendof the furnace chamber. and having a port at its'inner end, a casing mounted within said housing and havinga mouth registering with said port', a burner carried by said casing for projecting a flame through said port with the axis of the flame coincident with the center of said port, and means lfor adjusting said burner in said casing to change the angie of incidence of said flame within said furnace chamber Awhile maintaining the axial position of said flame withixi said port.

. 8. In lan lopen hearth furnace, a housin I mounted at one end of the furnace chamber and mounted at the outer end of said casing, a burn'- er carried by said carriage, and means for adjusting said carriage circumferentially about `a point located centrally within said port for changing the angle of incidence o'f the flame on the bath while maintaining the positionof the flame within said port.

9. In an open hearth furnace, uptake passages communicating with one end of the furnace chamber, a housing within said chamber located between and in transversealignment with said uptakes and having a port communicating with said chamber at a point in advance of said uptakes, a water-cooled hollow ring surrounding said port, a burner casing mounted in said housing and having a mouth adapted to register with said port, and a water-cooled ring mounted around said mouth, .said burner casing being rey movable from said housing to permit vaccess to said water-cooled rings.

10. In an open hearth furnace, a furnace chamber,- a housing located within one end of said furnace chamber having a port at its inner end, up-take passages communicating with said chamber at opposite sides. of said housing, a vburner located in said housinggand displaced rearwardhr from said port, an auxiliary air uptake extending upwardly between said up-takes for supplyingl air to said burner rearwardly of.

entially about a point centrally located within said port for changing the angle of incidence of the flame onthe bath while maintaining the position of the flame within said port. 4

11. In an open hearth furnace, uptake passages communicating with the furnace chamber, a housing within said chamber located between said passages and in transverse alignment therewith in proximity to the roof of said chamber and having a port at its inner end at a point in advance of said uptakes communicating with said chamber, means for introducing fuel to saidport, said fuel introducing means being so arranged as to permit changing the angle of impingement of the flame on the bath while maintaining said ame in an axial position within said port.

12. In an open hearth furnace, a housing located at one end of the furnace chamber and having a port located at its inner end with its axis inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the surface of the bath in said chamber, means for introducing fuel to said port, said fuel introducing means being so arranged as to permit changing the angle of impingement of the flame on the bath while maintaining said iiame in an axial position within said port.

13. The method of operating an open hearth furnace which consists in introducing air to the furnace chamber through a plurality of air uptakes in unrestricted flow and directing the ingress of air into the chamber so as to cause it to ow in two substantially separate streams horizontally and inwardly from one end of the furnace at opposite sides thereof, and also through a central stream at a higher velocity than the two outside streams and inclined downwardly on to the surface of the bath, the effect of which is to draw the said outside streams of air inwardly and downwardly on to the bath, and introducing fuel into said central air stream, whereby the formation of eddy currents is prevented and the position of the ame within the furnace chamber is maintained at a substantially fixed axial position at all times.

OLIVER P. LUETSCHER. 

